Almost After...like 95% After

This can't truly be a before/after shot because I haven't cleaned up yet! And I still have nowhere to hang a towel and I haven't put rugs on the floor...but I'm impatient. And while it may be without towels and rugs, it's also probably the only time my bathroom wont have dirty clothes on the floor. Accentuate the positive!



Pros? I could shower an entire Alaskan dog team in that shower! Con? I didn't consider something to put your soap/shampoo/conditioner on when you're in the tub. I haven't officially moved into it yet, but it already seems a lot easier to clean, a lot more functional, and in my mind...a lot better looking! (Sorry to offend anyone- I mean, someone liked that red racing stripe tile well enough to put it in...someone...just not my thing)

On to the next room!

For Becky

Dear Becky,

I love that our girls love each other and that they unsolicitedly hold hands in public. Just so you know, if it wasn't creepy...I'd hold your hand walking into our dance class together and do a loud spinning/clapping cheer with you every time we say goodbye. That's the kind of love I have for you.

Peace out,

Jamie

Get your Groupon on!

Every "Brandon & Jamie" Leavitt family photo we've ever taken of the three of us has always been on the back end of a giant photo session with the in-laws. Now, my in-laws have exquisite taste, but their taste leans toward photos where we are all wearing coordinating suits and pencil skirts, trying to look casual in front of fire places. We've been looking like healthy, successful, captains of industry for years now. And as much as I've enjoyed my home being filled with photographs of us looking like we're heading off for job interviews, I decided I wanted to try my own thing for once. Which is why, when a groupon came up for a photographer who would take my pictures outside (heather harris of pure photo), I snatched it up. I am so freakin' glad I did. She was wonderful- she didn't even bat an eye lash when I opened up the back of my car and hauled out 3/4 of my living room furniture. Here are some samples pre-photo shop that we took this weekend.




You know we'll be back for Heather Harris!!

Gonna hammer in the mornin', Gonna hammer in the eve'n

This picture was taken about 15 minutes ago, on a Sunday evening, in what was my master bath. First, the picture is blurry from the flurry of activity taking place. Second, Brandon's helper crew was intentionally left out of the picture to protect their innocence (since we are literally breaking the sabbath- breaking it with power tools and sledge hammers! But trust me when I say my ox isn't in just mire- he is in drywall dust, broken glass, and a fair amount of black mold. Thanks Max and Ben!! [names potentially changed to protect the innocent]).

We saw a little spot of mold on our wall by our shower and that was all the motivation we needed to rip our master bath out. We've hated it for a while and it's one of the two remaining untouched areas of our home. However, if I had known the dang EXPENSE of a bathroom before we ripped off walls, I might have just worn a haz-mat suit to protect me from the mold while I did my make up. But, the mold was much worse than we thought, so I am slightly glad we did this. I'm sure further gladness is coming. Here is our before:

What you're missing in this picture is all the interesting dry wall choices on the ceiling line we're changing. I'm excited for the changes, but the sticker shock is unreal. I've felt that about almost all the areas we've changed in our home. I was actually looking back at my blog and realized I haven't done a good job updating all of the changes. Home changes are some of my favorite things to read on others blogs, so hopefully when we've swept up all the broken shower glass and finished this project, I'll take some pictures and do a house tour. Even though it is costly, I can say it's one of my favorite hobbies. I love, love, love gutting a house! I'd do it every time if we could afford it. I get to have exactly what I want (within reason), and we use the heck out of it! Two examples from this weekend...

My back yard. I love it! Perfect place to dirty all of my linens making forts and drinking capri suns with friends. I love watching the children run through the grass, ride scooters, play basketball. It feels like childhood is happening out my windows and it was totally worth it.

My cozy kitchen. I love that people stop by all the time and sit in my kitchen. It is the perfect size for my family (and hopefully future family) along with visitors. I love the lay out. It isn't huge, but it's super duper functional. This picture is from one of those said visits. Our friend Chef Niel brought us some freshly smoked ribs and hung out with us for a while. Sure, I need to paint my table legs yellow, hang some art work and install a ultra white subway tile back splash- but I'm sure happy to have my kitchen!

From my money pit to yours!

Love, Jamie

starting off the new year awkward

We were asked to chaperon the new year's eve stake dance. I was pretty excited- I haven't been to a stake dance since I was a card carrying, jittery teenager myself. I had forgotten a few things about stake dances. Namely...

1.) No one dances at stake dances.
2.) By the end of the night the room smells like B.O.

After an hour of watching the kids awkwardly stand in same-sex groups, shuffling and looking around, Brandon and I decided it was time to get the party started. "Heck!"...we thought..."We're young, stylish. They'll accept us as one of their own." And with that premise, we headed to the middle of the dance floor and started busting some serious dance moves to a Kesha's "blow." Any second,I was sure, they'd join in the riot we were starting.We got to the chorus and were ready to start some serious moves you can usually only find on TV or youtube...when we looked around and noticed that our 30-somethingness had cleared the entire dance floor...

...and none of them were looking at us.

...here I come housecoats and blue hair...

Christmas Week

Merry (belated) Christmas from the Leavitts! We have officially entered recovery mode around here. And I got a feeling it's going to be a few months long...

We had an exceptional holiday and a grand Christmas week. It started out a bit rough as Brandon prepared for trials and Abby and I struggled to survive some public school acquired plague, but it ended rosy and bright!

2.5 days into aforementioned plague, I couldn't take being in the house any more. So Abby and I (sans Brandon, since he is the typical low-man-on-totem-pole-associate) bundled our recently de-fevered bodies and headed to springs preserve. Now you may question my judgment taking a sick kid and a sick mom to a public, freezing festivus. And I don't blame you. But you try taking 2 days of Barbie movies and see how long it takes you before you're willing to chance creating a global pandemic. 'nuff said.

We finally have enough little ones for a Christmas eve nativity. Not to toot my own (and sister Kari's) horn, but I do believe this was a quality production. She had costume and set design and I was on script and soundtrack. I mean look at this shepherd!

another shot from springs preserve. she loved her blinged-out christmas tree face paint. So much in fact, that I let her keep it on for way too long...so long it ended up looking like a nasty skin bruise. Again, mother of the year!

We had an epic Leavitt family christmas eve party- complete with matching jammies and lobster tails. I'm spoiled rotten!

I think my favorite part of our nativity was watching baby Logan and Makena in their lamb costumes crawling along the floor. Our Three Wise-Dads were quite smashing in their paper crowns, bathrobes and various lady's scarves.

We did feast and feast and feast- on who-plum pudding and rare who-beast. (That's my shout out to the grinch- an all time favorite.) My little family actually feasted on chocolate strawberry whole wheat waffles with whipped cream. Sounds way better than who-beast, eh?

She only got one thing she asked Santa for...but I still think she ended up pretty happy. If two hours playing P.I.G. in the backyard and rolling her scooter through the house mean happy, then we're there!

Fleas on a Dog!
(feliz navidad, according to a five year old)

Updates

In true Jamie Leavitt fashion, I've missed a lot. The above picture is of thanksgiving. And no, that isn't my beautiful face next to Brandon. That's our friend Priscilla's beautiful face. You can also see that beautiful face here http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=8793&vid=1&pid=871031. Yes, she's a Gap model. And Brandon insists he keeps staring at this picture because he looks so handsome in it. While it is true that he is a stone cold fox, I have my doubts about his stated reasons for loving it :) But heck! I want to look at Priscilla too. She's insanely lovely, warm, and fun to have around. Ok, let's move on from my insecurities into an update-dump...

First, an update on my goals for my 31st year. I said I would blog 4xs a month- I accomplished that for November. This is my first post for December, so exciting stuff really needs to happen in the next few weeks so I'm motivated to write about them. Oh, and I was a vegetarian for a week and loved it! My family on the other hand felt tortured. I could easily rock that lifestyle, but I'd need more Birkenstocks and clothes made from Nepalese wool. That's all I've accomplished so far. Amen.

A few items of potential interest I missed...

• I took an LSAT for fun. Rocked its socks. Nice to know Mama's still got it.
  
• Done Christmas shopping.
• We had an excellent turkey bowl this year.
• We had a super fun double date with our good friends the Chatwins. It was not fun because my food was good though. I had toxic green Thai chili dip with pork rinds (curse my adventurous spirit). It was, however, fun because our 30-somethingness cleared out an impromptu Asian teenager disco-tech.
  
• Niece Brinley was baptized and I cried like a newborn babe all the way through it.
  
• We've gone to some seriously funny parties and brought home some seriously entertaining white elephant gifts.
  
• My mom had a birthday. No, she wouldn't like it if I told you which one. So I wont (which you may consider a happy late birthday gift, mom).
  
• Abby and I participate in the annual penguin run even though it was sub-ARCTIC conditions here in Vegas that day (like high of 50!!!)
• I had my first parent teacher conference. Painless when your kid is perfect- loved every minute!
• We had dinner with Chef Niel. He "plated" my dinner for me and refilled my water constantly. (I sent a thank you card that night, the service was that good at his restaurant/house.)
• Brandon went snowboarding for the weekend while I babysat pretty much every kid I know. Have I mentioned I need a break?
• Abby, some of her friends, and I went to a Christmas light parade that was magical in every way. It was awesome. Henderson- it's a place to call home!
• Abby had her first Cheerleading camp and was a super star. She was the "flyer" and I lost about 30 seconds off my life hearing that. They tossed around my little dumpling like she was pizza dough and she loved every minute.

That about sums up the last 2 weeks! Peace and prosperity- to all a good night, on dasher!